Superintendent Update
December 6, 2024
Dear Bedford Public Schools Community,
The school committee began discussions on the FY26 budget at its November 26th meeting and will continue deliberations at the next 3 meetings (Dec. 10th, Dec. 17th, and Jan 7th). As with the Friday morning meeting tallest tower competition at Lane School today (pictured, featuring judge Assistant Principal Smaldone as judge, with the tower of co-winning team Ms. Maniatis' class, who tied with Ms. Colpoys' class), the budget is a balancing act requiring teamwork, design, and efficiency. Feedback is welcome, including input about potential fees. I will also be holding two budget listening and information sessions at 6 pm before the committee meetings on Dec. 10th and Dec. 17th at Town Hall (please RSVP here for planning purposes).
Best,
Cliff Chuang 莊 宏 毅
Superintendent, Bedford Public Schools
P.S. Reminder - Davis and Lane Schools will have early dismissal days on Dec. 20th and Feb. 13th, with a change for Preschool dismissal times; see below for more details.
Important Notice for Preschool Families on 12/20 - Early Dismissal
To ensure the safe and timely pick-up of preschool students prior to the half-day dismissal for K-2 students on Friday, December 20, Morning Preschool Classes will dismiss early at 11:45 AM. This adjustment is made to avoid overlap with the K-2 dismissal. Pick-up procedures will remain the same. Please note that no cars will be allowed in the bus loop after 12:00 PM as buses will begin arriving to pick up K-2 students. Pick-up for full-day preschool students is not affected and will occur at the regular time, 2:35 PM. Thank you for your cooperation!
- December 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
- December 10: School Committee Meeting - Superintendent Budget Listening Session 6-6:45pm
- December 17: School Committee Meeting - Superintendent Budget Listening Session 6-6:45pm
- December 18: International Migrants Day
- December 20: Early Dismissal for Lane & Davis Schools ONLY
- December 23-31: Winter Break - No School
- December 25: Christmas
- December 26*-January 2: Hanukkah (*starts at sundown of December 25th)
- January 1: New Year's Day - No School
- January 2: School Back in Session
- January 7: School Committee Meeting - Open FY26 Budget Hearing
- February 13: Early Dismissal for Lane & Davis Schools ONLY
As part of the Bedford Public Schools' FY26 budget process, we are considering fees for transportation for students in grades 7-12, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain our level of service without an additional revenue stream to offset some of the operational costs. We encourage you to share your input about fees via this survey: Bedford Public Schools Fee Survey. Thank you.
At the next school committee meeting on Tuesday, December 10th, members are expected to ratify the FY25-FY27 teachers contract, continue their FY26 budget deliberations (including consideration of central office realignment positions), consider the SY26 calendar (1st read) and hear an update on the K-5 Social-Emotional Learning curriculum. Superintendent Chuang will also be holding two Budget Listening and Information Sessions on December 10th & 17th from 6-645 PM in the Select Board Room at Town Hall (same location as the school committee meetings). If you plan to attend, it would be helpful if you could RSVP here for planning purposes.
As always, please feel free to contact Superintendent Chuang and the School Committee with any feedback you wish to share. The full agenda, schedule, and supporting materials can always be found at School Committee - Meeting Schedule & Supporting Documents.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Bedford Public Schools during the week of February 3, 2025. Each school district undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards. Bedford Public Schools will be undergoing a Group A monitoring review that focuses on special education student identification and special education eligibility timelines; Individualized Education Program (IEP) development; programming and support services; procedural requirements for suspensions and equal opportunity. The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed. Bedford Public Schools will host an orientation about the review process in collaboration with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). The Department will also send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.
Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Joan Brinckerhoff, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3715 to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the district with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/default.html